The Secret Garden Party announced Ren’s return with an exclusive show titled ‘Asylum’. This performance will delve further into the narratives derived from his number one album and lead track ‘Sick Boi’. The showcase is set to take centre stage at this year’s festival, produced and created by Ren Gill & Secret Garden Party. This is set to be a one of a kind and an unmissable spectacle that’s already earmarked to become one of 2024’s key events.
Leaning into his life journey and finding beauty in the bleakest of situations, Ren spent years bed-ridden with illness. It was from there he found new light leading towards a brighter future. Leveraging this experience, Ren began to write and create more. In 2023 he positioned number one in the UK charts with ‘Sick Boi’, a self-produced and released album. This unique achievement that doesn’t happen very often in today’s industry. The ‘Asylum’ show represents two sides of a coin, depicting the asylum Ren experienced first hand through his illness and the failure of the inherent medical system. In true artistic nature this has been transmuted into giving Asylum; a safe haven for others, in particular other creatives.
‘Asylum’ is not the first collaboration between Ren and the Secret Garden Party. They worked together on ‘Money Games pt 3’, with SGP (and the Head Gardener’s wife) working as the producers, which successfully culminated in Best Music Video, Best Concept and Best Director at the London Music Video Awards recently. As well as scooping three more awards at The International Music Video Awards. This provides a clear insight into the level of sheer creativity and quality that these two entities and proud independent forces generate when put together.
SGP founder Fred Fellowes comments on Ren – “I can safely say that in over twenty years of the Garden Party I have never seen or heard the equal; I am so excited to be creating this show with someone I genuinely believe is one of the most talented human beings of our generation.”
Saturday night will feature a state of the art light and pyrotechnics show about the current state of the music industry, aptly named That’s ‘Showbiz’, Baby. Designed by the Head Gardener and Mixsonix, with production by Acme, Immersive International and Celestial who collectively made history providing the UK’s first ever festival multimedia drone show at Secret Garden Party last year.
‘Asylum’ & ‘That’s ‘Showbiz’, Baby’ is set to shine a prominent light on the extensive corruption and corporate control that creatives often face within the music industry. Ren was originally a busker on the streets of Brighton and remains the epitome of independent music and DIY culture. This theme further amplifies SGP’s recent news that they will forego big-name headliners for their ‘Roots’ 2024 edition. Joining the Chai Wallah’s ‘Drop a headliner’ campaign, in support of grassroots artists and spearheading a reactive change across the industry. Albeit a major name for his collective awards, Ren is openly an innovator and champion of artistic independence, and the perfect ambassador for the new wave of artists cutting through.
Colombe Flint, SGP General Manager comments – “Asylum is a true collaboration of independent talent and grass roots artists. The message Asylum sends is extremely important and perfectly aligns with our values and with what we are trying to achieve with Roots.”
This is set to be Ren’s first performance in four years and he will be joining a diverse line up including Le Boom, Chinchilla, Monster Florence, Brittany Davis, Angélica Garcia and Uche Yara along with collectives like Chai Wallahs, Save Our Scene, Parable, Dubtendo and Noirganica, hosting dedicated venues to highlight and activate grassroots live music throughout SGP 2024.
As an incubator and creatively inspired platform, Secret Garden Party has continuously showcased cutting-edge acts across their cumulative 20+ years in operation. July will see them take one step further, by hosting the first ever live music stage to record production and mastering for grassroots artists during the event. The mainstage is set to transform into a live recording arena which will allow artists the opportunity to create, then release a track free of charge post festival.
Recent news has highlighted the impacts of corporate monopolies like Live Nation and Ticketmaster in the USA are amplifying the global issues across the industry worldwide, including the UK. With more than 100 festivals presently in danger of shutting down in 2024 already, and reports that show 16% of grassroots music venues have closed in the past year alone, shows that this troubling trend threatens the UK’s rich and diverse music scene as it currently stands.
By fostering independent, artistic freedom and entertainment creativity, Secret Garden Party aims to maintain its status as a leader in musical innovation and help sustain the future growth for independent festivals and events in the UK.
Make a stand for the future of the UK music scene, embrace creativity and ensure our cultural heritage remains fiercely vibrant and independent. For more information on tickets, how to support and get involved visit www.secretgardenparty.com.
Secret Garden Party
The Secret Garden Party is one of the few remaining truly independent music festivals in the UK. The party has grown organically since its inception in 2003 and is celebrated for its focus on creativity, diversity and participation.
Its magical landscape and attention to detail to the experience inspires those that attend, whether attendees, artists or creatives.
With no division between on or off stage, the party strongly encourages audience involvement through action camps and immersive entertainment.
www.secretgardenparty.com/secret-garden-party-2024
www.instagram.com/thesecretgardenparty/
Ren
Singer, songwriter, producer, rapper, multi-instrumentalist. Music is Ren’s love. Signed when he was just a teenager, Ren fell sick with an illness that took away 5 years of his life, which resulted in taking away his dream.
After finally being diagnosed with Lyme disease, Ren underwent a stem cell transplant which brought him back to the world of the living. During a time when he was stuck in his bedroom for years on end, Ren turned to writing and producing which in his words ‘saved his life’. Writing heavily about illness, isolation and depression, his words have resonated with many around the world entwined with striking vocals and a unique musical style.
A rapidly growing loyal fanbase has spurred Ren on to not only continue to share his raw and real music but also to conceptualise and direct his own visual content, with the help of his best friend and a camera. In 2023 he positioned number one in the UK charts with ‘Sick Boi’, a self-produced and released album. This unique achievement that doesn’t happen very often in today’s industry.
Music and storytelling have forever been intrinsic to him as a multi-hyphenate artist, most commonly known for his viral sensation ‘Hi Ren’. Released in December 2022, the hit combined elements of music, spoken word, art and theatre. It amassed an incredible 30M+ YouTube views and continues to make a global impact. Prior to this, the wordsmith shared a poignant rendition of The Verve’s’ iconic hit ‘Bittersweet Symphony’; currently sitting with 4.3M views (with 1.5M Subscribers). These releases alone have gained him co-signs from the revered Britpop band, as well as other musical heavyweights including The Prodigy, Limp Bizkit and the late, great Sinead O’Connor. In addition to these endorsements, Ren has recently received some brilliant radio support from Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 6 and Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1.
Ren’s goal is to establish himself as a countercultural creative in control of his entire world. He loves visionaries like Quentin Tarantino and Stanley Kubrick, and has already garnered comparisons to both of them via his loyal online fanbase. Beyond any particular musical style, his fans see Ren as a master narrator who effectively delivers potent messages that speak directly to their lives. Ren is connecting with his supporters at an elemental level; as human beings who can relate and learn from each other.
With an increasingly devoted audience of millions, Ren has built an impressive, cult-like global fan base. Together, they are turning into an invincible community. His artistry is built on truth. He is becoming the voice of the misunderstood.
www.instagram.com/renmakesmusic/
www.youtube.com/user/RenMakesMusic
Immersive International
Immersive International was founded in 2004 and has since gained a reputation for being one of the most creative experiential studios in the world.
Their studio is committed to questioning accepted trends, so they can go beyond them. This collaborative and authentic creative process generates works that are innovative and timeless, challenging them to constantly evolve their practice.
With unique projects, each one an intricate blend of visual arts, bold architectural concepts, narrative storytelling and innovative technologies. This fusion of art forms produces world-first shared experiences that engage, entertain, and connect audiences across the globe.
https://www.immersive.international
Celestial Images
Celestial has created an entirely new form of entertainment, set on the world’s biggest stage – the sky. Blending modern technology with creativity they have developed a pioneering new artistic medium to entertain and drive positive change in the world. Celestial are fanatical about producing stories with purpose, responsibly using this groundbreaking artform to create entertainment and share powerful messages for the benefit of people and the planet.
Since forming in 2019, Celestial has gathered an unparalleled global team of experts from the worlds of film, music, theatre, animation and technical operations.. Collaborating with world-class talent, from Poet Laureates and Grammy-winning musicians to Hollywood actors and indigenous artists, Celestial creates premium drone light shows that deeply connect with viewers on an emotional level.
Acme FX
Renowned for its innovative and high-quality effects for film, television, and live events. With a talented team of experts, AcmeFX specialises in creating breathtaking visuals and immersive experiences that captivate audiences.
Acme FX mission is to transform imagination into reality through cutting-edge special effects, exceptional hire services, and bespoke builds. Their team of skilled engineers and artists collaborate closely with clients to design and construct unique, tailor-made effects that meet specific project requirements. From elaborate set pieces to specialised props and interactive installations they deliver extraordinary, one-of-a-kind results.